Anode-support.



G. E. LEFFEL.

ANODE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1911.

1 86,654. Patented Aug. 2 1912. I

(A INVENTOR 722A) 14441 I specification.

Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAMENCE E. LEFFEL OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA ASSIGNOR TO THE SPIRELLA COMPANY, OF MEADVILIJE, PENNSYLVANIA, .A. CORPOPYATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ANODE-SQUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

Application filed September 27, 1911. Serial No. 651,521.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. LEFFEL, a resident of Meadville, in the county of Crawford" and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Anode-Supports, of which the following is a This invention relates to anode supports intended for use in electro-plating.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a support for the anode plate of simple and cheap construction, which can be readily apin; Fig. 5

plied to the anode and in a manner to produce a good electrical contact, and which can also be readily removed from the anod. when the latteris worn out, and used upon other similar anodes, thereby effecting a great saving.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. a

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional view through an electro-plating tank showing the anode in position; Fig. 2 is a side view of the supporting hook for the anode; Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same; Fig. 4 1s aside view of the upper portion of the anode showing the socket there is a view looking downward on the anode snown in Fig. 4; and Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are detail views showing modifies. tions.

In the drawings 1 represents the electro plating tank which may be of the usual or any desired construction, shape, or size. EX- tending over the tank are a pair of rods or tubes 2 for supporting the anode and cathode, respectively.

7 pensive, costing as much as fifty cents per pound. The consequence is that ina large electro-plating establishment where very considerable numbers of tanks are constantly inuse the cost of these supporting hooks Th at amounts to a very considerable sum in the course of a year. i

My invention is intended to provide an anode support whereby the hooks need not be scrapped, but can be used repeatedly, thereby resulting in a large saving in the cost of operation of these electroplating plants.

In carrying out the invention the anode is provided at its upper end with a pair of upstanding projections or Wings in the same plane as that of theanode plate, as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5. These projections or wings are provided with inclined or slanting inner edges to form a dove-tailed is, not only tapers downwardly from the top to the bottom of the socket, but also from one side to the other of the socket. The hook 4 is provided in its lower end with an enlargement or head 7 which is similarly tapered in two directions increasing in width downwardly, and being wider at one end than at the other, thereby producing a portion somewhat wedge-shaped. This tapered portion is inserted in the socket l) at one'side of the anode and is driven tightly thereinto, therebv producing not only a firm mechanical support for the anode, but providing an almost perfect electrical contact, about equally as good as if the hook were cast integral with the plate. The connection, however, is such that when'the plate is exhausted the hook can be driven out of the same and used on a new plate. \Vhile the hook, there,- fore is removable from the plate the manner of connection is such that a practically perfoot electrical contact is secured which is of great importance in electroplating, as the current used is of very low voltage- The socket 6 can be formed. in. the anode by coring when casting, but preferably both the socket and the enlargement 7 on the hook will be filed or otherwise finished, to produce'smooth contacting surfaces.

The enlargement 7 and the socket 6 may take various shapes. Fig. 6 shows practically a half wedge, that is, the enlargement 8 which is perfectly flat on one side as at 9 and t-aperegl on the other. The socket in the anode will be of corresponding shape. Fig. 7 illustrates the enlargement 10 of general triangular shape with a horizontal lower face, but tapering lengthwise, the same as the other forms, whilst-he socket socket 6 which tapers in both directions, that ice ' 11 in the top of the anode is of corresponding shape. Fig. 8 shows an enlargement 12 'of general triangular shape in end view but tapering in the other direction, while the socket 13 of the anode is of corresponding sha c. Fig. 9 shows still another form in whic the enlargement 14 is of square or diamond shape in end view, but tapered in the other direction, and the socket 15in so that when theenlargement is driven into the socket a very tight electrical contact is secured.

The hook itself .has its inner face on a radius substantially equal to that of the rod or tube 2 and practically a semicircle, and has a wide flat inner face so as to provide a large bear-i'ng contact on theiconductor 2.- The hook is preferably provided onits end 16 and on' a point diametrically opposite the same, as at 17, with slight projections 18 which provide overhung surfaces 19,

which can be grasped by the thumb and a finger and give a good hold in lifting the anode .out of the bath when desired.

The anode support described is of simple construction and can be manufactured at a low labor cost. .It provides a secure support for the anode and one having an almost perfect electrical contact, while at the same time being removable from the anode so that the hooks can be detached from a wornout anode and attached to another anode at. a very great saving. The anodes themselvesrequire no special shaping or fabrication other than the provisionof the sockets 6 in the upper ends thereof. These sockets need be only of the width of the thickness of the anode so that an enlargement or thickening at the top of the anode involving a considerable amount vof metal at the point where it does no particular good is entirely avoided.

What I claim is 1. An anode supportcomprising a hook adapted to engage and be supported by a conducting rod or bar and provided atv its lower end with an enlargement increasing in size downwardly and tapering in one direction transversely to the vertical axis of ,the hook and adapted to enter a corresponding socket in an anode.

2; A constrhction of'the character described com rising an anode provided in axis of the hook and adapted to enter said socket.

3. In a construction of the character deengage and be supported by ,a conducting rod or bar and provided on its lower end withan enlargement mcreasmg 1n slze downwardly and taperingtra'nsversely to a I the vertical axis of the. hook and of substantially the length of the thickness of said anode plate and adapted to be driven in the socket in said plate.

. at. In a construction of the character de scribed, the combination of a flat faced anode plate provided in its upper end with a transverse socket tapering from one side to the other, and a hook formed to engage and be supported by a conducting rod or bar and provided on its lower end with an enlargement tapering transversely of the axis of the hook and of substantially the length of the thickness of said anode plate, and adapted to be driven into the socket m said plate,

5. An anode support comprising a hook provided at its lower end with an enlargement tapering transversely of the axis of the hook and adapted to enter-a corresponding socket in an anode and having its upper free end and its shank at a oint diametrically opposite its free end ormed to provide concave grasping surfaces, each of which curves downwardly and inwardly toward the axis of said hook. 1

In testimony whereof, I have hereun set my hand.

.DLARENCE E. LEFFEL.

Witnesses:

. J. H. PARDEE,

T. F. CHARLTON. 

